Every year when I release my annual trend report, I get the same question: “How do I follow trends without losing my style?” In this post, I’ll share how to follow trends and build a marketable portfolio without losing your integrity as an artist!
Read MoreIntroducing my limited-edition towel with Buvanha! I've been sitting on this secret for an entire year, and I can finally share it with you: I've partnered with Buvanha to create a limited-edition travel towel inspired by Thailand, one of the most meaningful places in the world to me. This collaboration has been such a special journey, and I'm excited to pull back the curtain and share the full story with you! I’ll tell you why I said yes to this project, the design inspiration, and the incredible nonprofit it supports. Plus how this tiger towel has literally traveled the world with me over the past year.
Read MoreIf you want to license your artwork, there are some must-haves in your portfolio that art licensing agents and buyers always look for. At the top of that list is seasonal collections. (Think, winter holidays/Christmas, spring florals, Halloween, and sunny summer themes). Let’s dive into what a seasonal collection is, how to design one, and how to make it unique to you!
Read MoreThinking about partnering with an art licensing agency? You’re not alone! This is one of the questions I get most often from artists building a surface design business. In this post, I’ll walk you through what agencies do, who they’re right for, and how to start researching the best fit for your work.
Read MoreWhen you’re creating art with the goal of selling it, whether through licensing or on your own products, there’s one factor that can really make your work stand out. Making sure it’s a good fit for the products it might live on. In this post, you’ll learn how to think strategically to create and present work with massive selling power for art licensing.
Read MoreI’m thrilled to introduce the six incredible artists who were selected to receive full-ride scholarships to The Art of Collections™, my 6-month mentorship program designed to help artists build a pitch-perfect portfolio and turn their art into a profitable licensing career.
Read MoreThis list of art prompts for surface design will help get you unstuck when you’re feeling a creative block. The full list includes hundreds of prompts that are sure to help you build a stand-out portfolio of trending artwork.
Read MoreI started my art licensing business in 2014 and I often get asked how I started. Now, with over a decade of experience in the industry, I can confidently say that how I started back then is not how I’d start now. These days, I have a much more strategic approach to business, and you can adopt this strategic approach yourself! If I were starting my art business from scratch, these are the things I'd focus on that make a huge impact when you're starting out.
Read MoreIf you want to get your artwork licensed, but have no idea how to get art directors to notice you, you’re in the right place! This post will cover the exact steps you need to take to successfully pitch your artwork to potential clients and get your art in front of the right people.
Read MoreEvery year, new visual trends emerge and it’s important to stay on top of them if you want to stand out as a surface designer. This year, we’re seeing a shift towards maximalism, dreamy landscapes, and rich, opulent motifs.
Read MoreSociety6 recently announced a major shift to a curated marketplace, removing thousands of artist accounts while making changes to pricing, fees, and submission processes. While this decision has left many artists feeling frustrated and uncertain about their future on the platform, it also presents an opportunity to rethink how artists build their businesses. As an artist who has been involved with Society6 for over a decade, I understand both the challenges and potential paths forward. In this post, I break down what’s happening, what it means for artists, and how to move forward—whether your account was removed or remains active. I also provide actionable steps for diversifying income streams, building a business outside of third-party platforms, and exploring new ways to sell artwork. While change is difficult, this may be an opportunity to regain control over your creative career and find new paths to success.
Read More2024 brought a consistency & balance to my life that I haven’t really had since I started traveling full-time eight years ago. I anchored into place in Thailand, which gave me the consistency & energy to pour into building The Art of Collections, the biggest endeavor I’ve ever attempted in my business.
Read MoreThe key to a successful surface design and art licensing career is your art licensing portfolio! I often get asked what to include in your art licensing portfolio, so today I want to share some portfolio examples and my process for putting together a strategic portfolio that will help you land art licensing collaborations!
Read MoreIs there any ethical way to use AI as an artist? Let’s talk about it. First of all, please know that I acknowledge the concerns surrounding AI-generated designs. I know that this is a triggering topic for many creatives, and I think there is a lot of nuance to the issue. That is why I advocate for the ethical use of this technology to streamline the artistic process. Read on to learn more.
Read MoreWhen you’re designing a pattern for surface design, it’s important to be strategic about the motif you choose. I’ll share why it’s important plus three tips for choosing top-selling motifs for your surface design portfolio in this post.
Read MoreHave you heard the term “filler pattern” or “blender pattern” and wondered what the heck it meant? In the world of surface design, these terms refer to a simple repeating pattern. In this post, I’ll walk through everything you need to know about blenders including how they’re used in practical surface design applications, how to design them effectively, and how to quickly whip them up by repurposing elements from existing illustrations.
Read MoreIn this post, I’ll break down the steps for how to plan a collection from start to finish. I know planning may not feel very glamorous, but when you take the time to plan your collection ahead of time, it allows you to focus on the most important (and fun) part – creating the art!
Read MoreIf you’re an artist selling on Society6, chances are you’ve seen the changes they’ve made in switching to their new tiered pricing structure called Artist Plans. I’ve been watching this play out and I know that it’s causing some unrest and confusion among the art community.
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